Remelmeyer, Citizen of Year, Comes Home From Hospital

Retired Torrance City Atty. Stanley E. Remelmeyer had two things to celebrate on Saturday: getting out of the hospital and winning the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award.

Remelmeyer, who had open heart surgery at Torrance Memorial Hospital Medical Center on May 26, said in a brief telephone interview Saturday that he felt unwell last week and re-entered the hospital Wednesday.

He said doctors removed fluid from his chest cavity, and by Saturday he was feeling “much better” and expected to go home. Hospital officials said Remelmeyer was discharged Saturday afternoon.

The 71-year-old Remelmeyer just missed being able to accept the Chamber of Commerce award Friday evening. He said his wife, Becky, accepted it for him at a banquet at the Torrance Marriott.

Known as the dean of South Bay city attorneys, Remelmeyer served as Torrance city attorney for 32 years. He is regarded as a major influence in Torrance’s development from a small town into the fourth-largest city in the county. He continues to serve as a legal consultant to the city.

The Chamber of Commerce chose to honor Remelmeyer because of his “significant achievements” on behalf of the community, including volunteer service for the American Red Cross, said Ida Aube, the chamber’s economic and community development manager.

Also honored by the chamber were Cherryl Liddle, who helped raise $2.9 million for United Way, and John Alter, who was honored for volunteer service to the chamber.

Remelmeyer retired from the city of Torrance in November, and in May was appointed interim city attorney for Hermosa Beach. Just two weeks later, he suffered chest pains while attending a political fund-raiser in San Pedro and later underwent triple bypass surgery.

On Saturday, Remelmeyer said he was pleased to to win the chamber honor on Friday and “to go home today.”